Amercia’s Cup: The city keeps its options open on where to host the event

One little step at a time, San Francisco officials are getting closer to approving a plan to host the America’s Cup sailing race.

That is, if you consider passing two different and competing resolutions approving construction in two different places — what the city’s Port Commission did Tuesday — progress.

The city has yet to decide if they will host the event on the northeastern or southeastern waterfronts and, for now, are keeping both options open.

The city must choose by the end of this year if they hope to convince Larry Ellison’s BMW Oracle Racing team to host the event in San Francisco.

“I have to admit that we have been moving very quickly, I am not sure we have specific visions for each of these places,” Jonathan Stern, a port staffer, told the commission.

The original option of having the event on the southeastern waterfront is expected to cost the port roughly $43 million, he said. The newer option of hosting the event on the northeastern waterfront will cost the port only $15.8 million, he said

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After roughly 90 minutes of enthusiastic public comment the three commission members approved both resolutions while noting their preference for the northeastern waterfront.

The plan will be discussed by the Board of Supervisor’s Budget and Finance Committee Dec. 8 and the full board on Dec. 14.